MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. – RMU Men's Hockey Head Coach
Derek Schooley announced today six student-athletes have transferred to join the Colonials for the 2024-25 season. Forwards
Mitchel Deelstra,
Cody Monds,
Eric DeDobbelaer, along with goaltenders
Dylan Meilun,
Dawson Smith plus defenseman
Greg Japchen join RMU as part of the latest recruiting class.
"We were able to increase our skill and depth along with our incoming freshmen and returning players," stated Schooley. "We feel we accomplished that with a diverse group of transfers that will bring potential to fit well with our team."
Deelstra joins RMU after playing three seasons at Ferris State and his senior year at Northern Michigan. At NMU, where he earned recognition on the CCHA All-Academic Team. A native of Wallace, Ontario, Deelstra has played in 112 career games, owning 19 goals, 20 assists and 39 points.
From Brockville, Ontario, Monds arrives after playing his junior campaign at Clarkson and his first two seasons at Providence. Across his three years, he's appeared in 87 games, producing 14 goals, 23 assists and 37 points.
Dedobbelaer enters his redshirt-sophomore season with the Colonials. A Hamilton, Ontario native, transfers to RMU from UMass with two games of experience.
Meilun is coming into his sophomore year after serving as the starting netminder for Stonehill in their inaugural Division I season. Prior to Stonehill, he played a year in Division III for Wisconsin-Superior where he earned NCAA Division III First-Team All-American honors. From Winnipeg, Manitoba, Meilun owns 14 career wins.
A native of Whitehorse, Yukon, Smith joins the Colonials as a redshirt-freshman. He played the 2023-24 season for Western Michigan. In his last season in the SJHL with the La Ronge Ice Wolves, he posted a 2.47 GAA and a .933 save percentage.
Born in Doylestown, Pa., Japchen played at Union College for his freshman year before transferring to Stonehill in 2023-24. He led all Skyhawks defenseman in goals, assists and points (3g-11a—14p).
"We're really looking forward to the start of the season," said Schooley. "Ryan Durocher and
Matt Nicholson did an outstanding job with adding 15 new student-athletes to our team."
Schooley, the program's only head coach, enters his 19
th season. RMU returned to the ice for the 2023-24 campaign and were the only program to win a road game in the first round of the 2024 AHA Playoff Tournament.
Follow The Colonials: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn | RMU Athletics Gameday App
